Driving in Italy

The Must-Know Facts for a Trouble-Free Holiday !

This section covers the basics for driving in Italy.

One of the best
ways to discover and exploring the wonders of Italy is undoubtedly by
car. However, to ensure that you have a stress-free driving while on
your holiday, it is imperative that you get acquainted with the Italian
driving laws and etiquette. To help you in that, we have summarised the
important points for you :

What documents are required to drive in Italy ?

For driving in Italy you need to carry with you a valid
form of identification i.e. your passport as well as a valid
full driving licence.

If you are coming
from the US or Canada, we recommend that in
addition to your American
or Canadian driver’s license you also carry an International
Driving Permit (IDP) as you may be required to show the
permit to pick
up your car. The IDP provides a translation of your license and you can
obtain one at your local American
Automobile Association
or Canadian
Automobile Association
office ($15 plus the cost of two passport-type
photos). In addition, you are likely to be fined if stopped and found
without a permit. Note that you must carry your
American or Canadian
driver's license as well as your international permit.

International Driving Permit (IDP) is generally not required
if you have a relatively recent EU driving licence. However, if you
have an old driving licence ( especially one without a photo on it) ,
we recommend that you either get it updated or take an International
Driving Permit as well.

If you are driving in Italy in your own car, make sure you
also carry with you the original vehicle registration
document. If the car is borrowed, this document is
required along with a letter of authority from the
vehicle’s owner.

Also make sure that you have clearly displayed sticker
that shows your country of origin. For example, if you
are
driving a UK registered car, make sure you have a clearly displayed GB
sticker.

And lastly, make sure you have an appropriate
motor insurance - third-party insurance is compulsory.
Check with
your insurance company before travelling that it is valid in Italy.

What is the minimum age for driving ?

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The legal minimum age to drive a car
or motorbike over 125cc in Italy is 18 years.

While the legal minimum age to drive a motorbike
of 50cc to 125 cc is 16 years.

And lastly, if you are hiring a scooter, the legal minimum
age to drive a
moped up to 50 cc is 14 years.

One word of caution, car
hire companies may employ slightly
different age restrictions, which can vary across companies. We will
strongly recommend that you check your car hire quotation
for exact
restrictions, as there may be an extra fee for drivers below
the
minimum age or over the maximum age.

What are the speed limits in Italy ?

Speed Limits in Italy are implemented rigorously and there are
frequent radar traps on the roads. Here is a summary of
the standard legal speed
limits in Italy for private vehicles without trailers,
which may be varied on the road by signs.

Note that the speed limits
are indicated in kilometres, however you can convert
them into miles by
using the calculator beneath:

Speed
Limits in Italy

Motorway

Dual Carriageway

Open Road

Town

Dry Weather

130
km/h

110
km/h

90
km/h

50
km/h

Wet Weather

110
km/h

90
km/h

80
km/h

50
km/h

Convert Italy Speed Limits from
Kilometers to Miles:

Convert Kilometers to
Miles

Type
in
Kilometers

Distance in Miles =

Be Warned - Speeding and other
traffic offences are subject to extremely heavy on-the-spot fines.

What is the alcohol limit in Italy ?

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The best advice here is never drink and drive. If the level of
alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.05 per cent or more,
you will be facing severe penalties including fines, confiscation of
vehicle and up to imprisonment.

Use of mobile/cell phone while driving

How are fines issued in Italy ?

Fines in Italy are issued on the spot.
The police can impose the fine and collect 1 quarter of the maximum
fine, and must give a receipt for the amount of the fine paid. Make
sure that you get an official receipt from the police officer
collecting the fine.

Note that the fines are particularly heavy for speeding
offences. If you park illegally, your car can be clamped or towed away
and a fine imposed.

Driving on the Autostrada (Motorway) in Italy

Driving in Italy is on the right and you overtake on the left
hand side of the road. When overtaking you must always signal in
advance with your indicator and keep it on while overtaking. As we
mentioned earlier having dipped headlights on is compulsory when
driving on the motorway.

Driving in Italy : Signs on the Autostrada

Italy uses international road signs. And the signs for the
motorways indicated by the letter “A” followed by a
number written in white on a green background. The direction signs have
the town names in Italian. In addition, here are a few key words you
should know:

Uscita meaning Exit

Entrata meaning Entrance

Tangenziale meaning tangential,
usually a ring road around a large town

Driving in Italy: Tolls

The majority of the motorways on Italy are subject to tolls
which can be paid through the following methods:

Cash

Credit Cards: Visa, Mastercard,
American Express, Diners Club are accepted.

Telepass : type of a
transponder used
by frequent drivers where the toll is deducted directly from the
driver's bank account.

Pay attention to choose the right lane at the toll station: if
you wish to pay in cash, follow the white signs, if you wish to pay by
credit card, follow the blue signs. Lanes with yellow signs are
reserved for Telepass users.

Driving in Italy: Entrance and Exit of the Motorway

You will often find that the entrance and exit ramps for the
motorways in Italy have quite tight corners, so please be aware of that
and drive carefully.

Driving in Italy: Service Stations

Service stations are very frequent along all of the motorways.
They are always open, and in addition to fuel, provide service such as
toilets, restaurants, bars, information offices and cashpoint.

Driving in Italy: Tailgating

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One thing to be aware of is that Italian drivers drive much
closer to each other than drivers are use to in other countries.
Especially when overtaking, they can come right up to your rear bumper.
And if there is an opening in front of you, it is expected that you
fill it , or someone else will fill it for you.

So just be aware of
this and do not panic, the best advice here is to slow down and not let
anyone rush you.

Additional Travel Resources

Road conditions : Whether you are
driving in Italy, it is always a good
idea to
keep up to date on the latest road works/accidents, and avoid being
stuck in queues. For real-time information including traffic webcams check
"Autostrade" website - the company that manages the Italian
motorway network.

Travel Fun : Do not underestimate the
power of travel entertainment when travelling with kids. You will find
plenty of suggestions for
Travel Games which should keep the little ones
amused for a few minutes.

Fun video summing driving in Italy

And lastly for some fun, take a look at this video about the
differences between the Italians vs. Europeans drivers:

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